Session #051, Work #039

Just a note about my posts, I’m one day behind, so this post is actually being written on the 20th but I’m changing the date to the 19th as that is the day I did this painting.

I started in on value and color with the leaf. I’m not sure exactly if this painting is going well. First off, it has seemed like every time I measured the drawing it was off. First I would measure the height and it was too short, then I would look and measure and it was too short… The process of measuring is flawed and not exact, but I can usually break it down to a point where it is really close. For this painting, I feel the control slipping. I fell as if everything I put down is a guess and I don’t like that. I want every stroke to be informed by something and to the best of my knowledge as correct as possible.

In hind site, I feel maybe that I was moving too fast. Tonight, my goal is to NOT finish this painting and to take my time and try and get every stroke as perfect as possible. If it takes me 2 minutes to but down each brush stroke then that is what I will do. I will not lay down paint unless I’m absolutely sure this is best as I can do with the color and value. Then when I add the stroke I will attempt to get the drawing as perfect as possible and the edges correct. This is going to be tough and demand great focus, but I’m going for it.

Also I’m thinking about limiting my palette to force myself to think about the color and value more. Too long I have mixed the color without giving it the thought it needs.